Data published by Gauteng’s provincial command council has showed that diabetes and hypertension remained the most common comorbidities among those who were recorded as dying of COVID-19, reports News24. The death analyses said 1,799 (57%) of the COVID-19 deceased suffered from either or both diabetes and hypertension.
A breakdown of these comorbidities revealed that: 764 (26%) of the deceased had hypertension; 429 (14%) of the deceased had diabetes; 606 (19%) suffered from both ailments.
A total of 126 (4%) of the deceased suffered from renovascular disease or HIV, while 95 (3%) were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or asthma. In 435 cases, the analysis listed the comorbidities as other and in 689, the deceased either had no comorbidities or the underlying conditions were unknown.
Looking at the number of days after COVID-19 patients were either diagnosed or admitted to hospital before dying, Gauteng Health Department COO Lesiba Malotana said it was clear many people presented themselves too late for treatment at hospitals.
[link url="https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/covid-19-diabetes-hypertension-most-common-comorbidities-in-people-who-died-in-gauteng-20200821"]Full News24 report[/link]